Monticello might be captured, I sent Lieutenant Drummond and fifteen men back with orders to protect them and arrest, if possible, any unauthorized bands they could find. Lieutenant Drummond has not yet returned. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieutenant WORTHINGTON, Captain, Commanding Scout. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. MAY 24, 1865.-Skirmish near Rocheport, Mo. Report of Capt. Warren W. Harris, Howard County Company Volunteer Missouri Militia. HEADQUARTERS, Post Fayette, May 25, 1865. I I have the honor to report to you that Sergt. Robert Digges, with a detachment of my company, had a fight with eleven bushwhackers, supposed to be under Jim Anderson, yesterday morning at 7.30 o'clock. The bushwhackers were at the house of Elias Thompson, in this county, about six miles from Rocheport. We killed 4 bushwhackers and captured 4 horses and equipments, several pistols, overcoats, &c. Sergeant Digges is satisfied that there were several wounded who escaped. Our loss was Private Ben. Reeves, severely wounded in the shoulder; we also had two horses killed. The names of the bush. whackers killed, as obtained from a rebel deserter just from Price's army, are Theodore Cassell, of Jackson County; Kelly, of Saint Louis (right arm off); John Chapman, of Clay, and Thomas Maupin, of Callaway. The last named has the forefinger off his right hand. inclose you two letters* taken off the body of Cassell. Sergeant Digges was on the trail of Jim Jackson the evening before. He started it in Boone County, and was following it up when he heard of Anderson's gang. We heard of Jackson yesterday at 10 a. m., with six other men near Boonsborough, in this county, going west. One citizen reports that Rider was along, and another reports that he recognized a man by the name of Finley with them. Finley was bushwhacking in this county last summer. I regret very much that there could not be a scout sent up after these last-mentioned bushwhackers. All my men who had serviceable horses were out, either with Sergeant Digges, with myself, who went out as soon as the fight was reported to me by a citi zen, or with Lieutenant Davis, who had started from here the night before with forty men, under orders from Colonel Denny to proceed to Brunswick. I have been informed that Captain Meredith, with his command and a detachment of the Ninth Missouri State Militia, under Lieutenant Thompson, are out in the Boon's Lick country after Jackson. Lieutenant Davis returned this evening from Brunswick. I hope that it will not be deemed necessary again to have my men ordered so far from home, especially when I have my hands full in my own county. The affair of yesterday is the third fight that my men have had with the bushwhackers. The first two came off in Boone County. Lieutenant Davis had a fight with Jim Jackson at the house of the Widow Cornelius, in Boone County, a week or ten days [ago]. Only his * Omitted. advance guard of seven men were engaged. The rebels fougnt desperately, but ran off before the main body of our men came up. No casualties on either side. Lieutenant Davis was on the trail of four or six men who had crossed the Missouri River at the mouth of the La Mine when he came across the trail of Jackson. Jackson had five men with him. I do not think, general, that there are any bushwhackers who stay habitually in this county. Jim Jackson and his gang make their home in Blackfoot, in Boone, and make a raid occasionally into this county. I believe that Holtzclaw is with Jackson. In every instance, except the last of yesterday, where we have got after bushwhackers we have followed them into or came across them in Boone. The gang we fought yesterday had just arrived in this county the day before. I hope the warm welcome they received will admonish them to stay away. I am, general, your most obedient servant, WARREN W. HARRIS, Comdg. Howard County Company Volunteer Missouri Militia, Organized under General Orders, No. 3. P. S.-I have just received information from a reliable source that another dead bushwhacker has been found near the place where the fight took place yesterday, making five killed, and also a dead horse. Yours, &c., Brig. Gen. I. V. PRATT, Comdg. First District, Missouri Militia, Macon, Mo. W. W. H. MAY 24, 1865.—Scout from Napoleonville to Bayou Saint Vincent, La. REPORTS. No. 1.-Capt. Thomas W. Sayles, Third Rhode Island Cavalry. No. 2.-Capt. Andrew T. Bushee, Third Rhode Island Cavalry. No. 1. Report of Capt. Thomas W. Sayles, Third Rhode Island Cavalry. HDQRS. COMPANY H, THIRD RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY, Napoleonville, La., May 25, 1865. LIEUTENANT: In accordance with orders received from headquarters post Napoleonville on the night of the 24th instant, I have the honor to respectfully submit the following report: With a party of twenty-five men I proceeded to Bayou Saint Vincent and there divided my force, sending a part on one side of the bayou under a sergeant, and with the remainder I took the other side and proceeded as far as we could go with the horses, making a careful examination by the way, but not seeing or learning of any rebels being in that vicinity. Having carried out my instructions I returned to camp. I have the honor to remain, sir, yours, respectfully, THOS. W. SAYLES, Captain Company H. Lieut. E. K. THOMPSON, Adjutant Third Rhode Island Cavalry. No. 2. Report of Capt. Andrew T. Bushee, Third Rhode Island Cavalry. HDQRS. COMPANY D, THIRD RHODE ISLAND CAVALRY, LIEUTENANT: I respectfully report that in compliance with orders received from headquarters Third Rhode Island Cavalry, May 24, 1865, I moved with twenty-five men on the Canal road four miles and a half. The water prevented my proceeding farther. I dismounted my men, examined the country, discovered no trace of the enemy, mounted, and returned to camp. Very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, A. T. BUSHEE, Captain, Commanding Company D, Third Rhode Island Cavalry. Lieut. E. K. THOMPSON, Adjutant Third Rhode Island Cavalry. MAY 25-27, 1865.-Expedition from Bayou Bœuf to Bayou De Large, La., with affair (27th) at Bayou De Large. Report of Lieut. Numa A. Pomponeau, First Louisiana Cavalry. BAYOU BOEUF, LA., May 29, 1865. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following as a report of an expedition under my command, in obedience to instructions from your headquarters, May 25, 1865: On the 25th I started with three enlisted men of Company K, First Louisiana Cavalry, and reported to Colonel Fuller, at Terre Bonne, on the morning of the 26th, who furnished me transportation to Houma, where I arrived at 10 a. m., and immediately proceeded to Negro Point with ten men of Captain Rhodes' company, Third Rhode Island Cavalry. After searching Negro Point and vicinity I was informed that the men for whom I was searching had been driven away by Lieut. Omar Boudreaux, and were of C. S. Army; and learning of [his presence in] this vicinity I started in pursuit of him on the morning of the 27th. I surprised him in his camp on Bayou De Large, back of J. Terrion's plantation. I found him and eleven men, who fled as soon as they discovered me. I got all of their arms, camp and garrison equipage. They made their escape, not having time to get their clothes on. I left Lieutenant Boudreaux in a condition unable to move or be moved alive, and I do not think he will give us any more trouble, although he was breathing when I left. I also wounded Sergt. Oscar Hymel, but he escaped in the marsh. Captured one of his men. The arms captured consisted of 7 muskets, 8 shotguns, 4 revolvers; ammunition, 12 pounds powder, 40 pounds shot and lead; also 8 blankets and 6 quilts. Prisoner and arms I turned in to provost-marshal at Houma. I also received information that Captain Hare with thirty or forty men is encamped between Bayou La Carp and Bayou William, about fifteen miles from where Lieutenant Boudreaux was encamped on Bayou De Large. Being unable to discover the whereabouts of the men for whom I was sent, I abandoned the expedition and returned to this place. I have the honor, captain, to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, NUMA A. POMPONEAU, Second Lieutenant Company K, First Louisiana Cavalry. Capt. B. B. CAMPBELL, Assistant Adjutant-General, La Fourche District. MAY 26-27, 1865.-Scout and skirmishes in Carroll and Ray Counties, Mo. Report of Lieut. David M. Freeman, Missouri Militia. HEADQUARTERS, Carrollton, Mo., May 27, 1865. DEAR SIR: I have the honor to report that on the morning of the 26th instant I started with a detachment of my men after the guerrilla Capt. A. Clement and eight men. After a chase of twenty miles I came up with them and immediately offered battle. With twelve of my best men I dismounted at a distance of a quarter of a mile; came down on a double-quick till within a few hundred yards, when they broke to the brush. I mounted, gave chase, came to the brush, dismounted, took the track in the brush some three miles, came on them with eight men, gave battle, and whipped them bad. Kept up the chase some four miles through bush and briar. Had a sharp fight in Crooked River timber. Followed the trail all day and rode all night, a distance of fifty miles, without rest, from Carrollton to the west part of Ray County, all the time without a road, most of the way in the thick brush. Whipped the guerrillas three times, killed or wounded three, captured a horse and prize, the captain's hat, and many other things. Lost nothing; none of my men hurt; had no accidents to happen. My boys. fight like veterans, making fun of the enemy all the time. They fight better than my expectations were. Now, general, if you want Jim Anderson captured, send me and thirty of my men and I will bring him in soon, for my men say they can track the bushmen like a dog will a deer. They are anxious to get the job of catching Jim and gang. I wish you would give me the job. I will follow him day and night till I get him. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, DAVID M. FREEMAN, First Lieutenant, Commanding Scout. General I. V. PRATT, Macon City, Mo. MAY 26-27, 1865.-Scout from Plum Creek, Nebr. Ter. Plum Creek, Nebr. Ter., May 29, 1865. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to instructions received from headquarters post Plum Creek, dated May 26, 1865, I left this garrison at 10 p. m. with fourteen enlisted men thoroughly armed and equipped, with an amount of rations they could carry, arriving at Mullahla's Station at 2 a. m. of the 27th, there awaiting daybreak, when I returned to a point five miles east and took trail of the Indians, moving south for about six miles. At this point they appeared scattered. The tracks became so dim that I found it impossible to follow their trail. Upon diligent search I found they had retraced their steps in the direction of Platte River, which stream they had crossed at a point five miles and a half east of Mullahla's Station. As near as I could ascertain, the Indian band numbered about thirteen. As I could not discern cattle tracks either upon the march or entrance into the river, I am strongly impressed that they did not cross with the cattle. The number of cattle driven off was nine head. A party of soldiers found three head in the bluffs south of Mullahla's. Finding it impracticable to cross the river in consequence of the recent rise, I proceeded directly toward Plum Creek, arriving in garrison at 6 p. m. of the 27th, after traveling fifty miles. Respectfully, your obedient servant, M. A. HANCE, First Lieut., First Nebraska Veteran Vol. Cav., Comdg. Scout. Lieut. JOHN S. SEATON, Post Adjutant, Plum Creek, Nebr. Ter. MAY 26-JUNE 9, 1865.-Operations against Indians on the Overland Stage Road on the Platte and Sweetwater Rivers, with skirmishes (May 27) at Saint Mary's Station, (May 26, 28, and June 1) at Sweetwater Station, (June 3) at Platte Bridge, Dak. Ter., and (June 8) at Sage Creek, Colo. Ter. REPORTS. No. 1.-Lieut. Henry C. Bretney, Eleventh Ohio Cavalry. No. 2.-Lieut. James A. Brown, Eleventh Ohio Cavalry. No. 3.-First Sergt. Samuel B. White, Eleventh Ohio Cavalry. No. 1. Report of Lieut. Henry C. Bretney, Eleventh Ohio Cavalry. PLATTE BRIDGE, DAK. TER., June, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to report that on May 26 three Indians made first attempt to take herd at Sweetwater Station, but were repulsed by garrison, the Indians having 1 killed and wounded, 1 pony crippled, without any loss to our side. On Sunday, May 28, they made another attempt at herd in force estimated at twenty-five or thirty, and succeeded in getting 4 horses and 2 mules. Stampede was owing to the two mules, which were very wild and led the horses off. Indians lost one wounded. On Thursday, June 1, they made an attempt on remainder of herd, but were repulsed; and on same day cut the telegraph wire about 1,000 yards from quarters, east, carrying off about 100 yards wire. On the 27th of May about 150 Indians attacked Saint Mary's Station, and in short time succeeded in setting fire to buildings. The garrison, consisting of five men, retreated to an old well outside of quarters, where they remained until the night of the 28th, when they escaped to South Pass. The operator, Private Chavil St. Clair, took precaution enough to secure a relay sounder and a coil of fine wire, and was thus enabled to communicate with Fort Bridger. Garrison lost everything but their firearms and the clothes on their backs. Their horse equipments burnt. There were but two horses at the station; one of these the Indians got, and the other was shot to prevent its falling into their hands. Indians cut out about 400 yards of wire and burned the poles. When Indians left they moved to the south, passing up the valley of Sage Creek. The garrison did as well as it could under the circumstances, and when Indians came within proper distance fired on them briskly. Several Indians are known to have been wounded. None of the garrison injured. H. C. BRETNEY, First Lieut., Comdg. Company G, Eleventh Ohio Vol. Cav. Col. T. MOONLIGHT, Commanding North Sub-District of the Plains, Dak. Ter. |